"The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon," writes Paul Shawcross, chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget, in a response titled "This Isn't the Petition Response You're Looking For."

Among the reasons listed are the estimated $850,000,000,000,000,000 cost ("We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it"), and the known Death Star vulnerability ("Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?"). Perhaps most crucially, Shawcross points out that "The Administration does not support blowing up planets."

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He goes on to highlight the impressive space vessels and stations that already do exist, urging petitioners to consider a career in science, technology, engineering or math. (Hmm, notice the order he put those in?)

"If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field," Shawcross writes, "the Force will be with us! Remember, the Death Star's power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force."

Why would we spend taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a 1-man starship? OFA.BO/yfxWt3